T12 to T5 light conversion questions

[Migrant13]

Question on T5 lights. Has anyone converted their T12 fixtures to T5 fixtures and if so what was your experience? I have a light cart with three 4x48 inch T12 bulb fixtures. I have seen on the web that you can buy T5 bulbs with their own internal ballast and two prong end such that they fit right into the existing 2 prong T12 sockets. They run about $36 bucks apiece and you have to remove the existing T12 ballast and re-wire. Didn't look too difficult to do. By comparison, you could buy a new 4x48 T5 fixture but it's a bit more money. Also, assuming you convert from 4 T12's to 4 T5's, is the increased light output too much for paphs generally? Could always scale back to 2 or 3 bulbs I suppose. Thanks in advance for any feedback.

 

[TyroneGenade]

If you are thinking about a change in lighting then I suggest you skip the 1990s/2000 tech and move straight into LEDs. I think these are the perfect entry level purchase: http://firstrays.com/cart/Plant-Lights/LED-Vivarium-Grow-Lamp Some people I know are using them over their aquariums and getting great plant growth (and generally Paphs need lower light than aquarium plants).

If I start growing under lights I will be setting up LEDs, not tubes.